Direct answer: Open the specialist L3 first when the merits live there; keep this page for the dispute overlay. Parent: recovery map.
Direct answerSubstance then forumAt a glanceEight playbooksScopeWhat we do not coverWorkflowOverlay stepsMistakesForum-only thinkingChecklistHandoff
Direct answer
A shareholder deadlock, a trade-secret leak and an unpaid shipment can share a clause — they do not share evidence, regulators or interim tools. Use the playbook table, then the Asset-First Desk.
At-a-glance playbooks
| Playbook | Substance desk | Dispute overlay |
|---|---|---|
| Supply / trade debt | Contracts · Trade | 72-hour plan + debt hub |
| JV / shareholder | Corporate / M&A / exit | Deadlock clause, equity as an asset, not only damages |
| IP / secrets | IP | Evidence hold + conduct preservation; specialist courts |
| Employment | Employment | Labor-arbitration interface — not CIETAC by default |
| Construction | Return to contracts + this map | Site evidence, guarantees, staged payment security |
| Data / platform | Data & cyber | Export screen before any case dump moves |
| Product incident | Product liability | Recall vs civil claim; do not skip safety file |
| FDI / NSR conflict | FDI / NSR | Clearance fights are not ordinary debt claims |
Scope
Playbooks are overlays, not restatements of the specialist guides. Family, consumer 12315 and criminal defense stay on their own desks. 1 May 2026 commercial-mediation rules exclude family, labor/personnel and consumer disputes from that vehicle.
Practical workflow
- Name the industry playbook.
- Open the substance L3.
- Run clause → 72 hours → assets on the recovery map.
- Attach the matching counsel PDF.
Downloadable briefs
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Why it fails |
|---|---|
| Employment claim in CIETAC because “we always arbitrate” | Labor has its own interface. |
| Trade-secret case with no evidence hold | The secret is the case. |
| Product recall treated as a collection file | Safety first. |
| JV fight that never maps the equity | Shares may be the only asset. |
Action checklist
- [ ] Playbook named.
- [ ] Substance L3 opened.
- [ ] Clause / clock / assets completed.
- [ ] Counsel PDF attached.
- [ ] City desk chosen if filings or assets are local.